Arizona chooses official state firearm... a gun made in Connecticut

It is a Southwestern state which has faced fierce criticism for lax gun laws following the horrific shooting of congressman Gabrielle Giffords.

So the announcement this week that Arizona is to be only the second state to chose an official state gun already seemed unwise - and that was before it emerged the gun is, in fact, made in Connecticut.

Despite criticism from anti-gun campaigners, governor Jan Brewer this week signed a bill into law that makes the Colt single-action Army revolver the official firearm of the state.

It's official: The single-action Army revolver made by colt has become the state firearm of Arizona

The revolver, which is made in Connecticut by Hartford-based Colt Defense, will now be the symbolic firearm of the state.

The legislation comes as critics have complained that the state has too lax gun laws following the Tucson shooting in January, which severely injured congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.

Legislation: Governor Jan Brewer signed the bill into law

House Minority Whip Anna Tovar said that the state government should be concentrating on the current economic crisis.

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'Another day, another waste of taxpayers' time and money at the state capitol,' she told the Phoenix New Times.

'My family owns guns, and I'm embarrassed that state government chose to spend hours on a state gun instead of changing one word in statute to ensure 20,000 Arizonans' jobless aid isn't cut off during tough times.

'This is absolutely ridiculous and offensive, and it's even more humiliating that the weapon they chose isn't even manufactured in Arizona. It's time for a change.'

Democratic Party Chairman Andrei Cherny added: 'Arizona Republicans hold all the power, and they've used it for all the wrong things.

'The result is that jobs are nowhere to be found, schools are forgotten, and our communities are silenced,' he told the Phoenix New Times.

Arizona follows Utah, which became the state to have an official state gun last month.